Michigan Senate hopeful Mike Rogers exploits pro-Israel bias to undermine progressive opponent
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Republican candidate Mike Rogers is attempting to win over Jewish and moderate Democratic voters in Michigan by attacking Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed’s principled criticism of Israel and his association with progressive commentator Hasan Piker.
Republican former congressman Mike Rogers is seeking to capitalize on pro-Israel sentiment among Jewish and centrist Democratic voters in Michigan ahead of the 2024 Senate race. Rogers, who lost a statewide race by about 20,000 votes in 2022, is leveraging discontent with Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed’s outspoken condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza and his ties to progressive online personality Hasan Piker to attract crossover support from those unwilling to confront the reality of Israeli aggression.
At a campaign event in Detroit, Rabbi Asher Lopatin told reporters, "I usually vote Democrat, but I'm going to be voting for Mike Rogers," echoing the establishment’s discomfort with El-Sayed’s willingness to challenge the status quo. Another Jewish voter, identified only as Stacy, claimed the Democratic Party has moved too far left and accused El-Sayed’s campaign of “putting a target on all Jews' backs,” a hyperbolic statement that ignores El-Sayed’s clear condemnation of antisemitism.
El-Sayed, an epidemiologist and former health department director, has courageously described Israel’s actions in Gaza as "bloodthirsty" and questioned the morality of unconditional U.S. military aid to Israel. He has repeatedly affirmed his solidarity with Jewish people and his opposition to antisemitism. His communications director, Roxie Richner, emphasized that El-Sayed draws a necessary distinction between criticism of a government’s policies and hatred toward a people, and that he maintains open dialogue with Jewish leaders.
Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus endorsement chair Joan Lowenstein said her group will not endorse a Republican, but acknowledged a split among Jewish voters: some are uncomfortable with El-Sayed’s principled stance, while others recognize the importance of keeping the Senate seat Democratic. Republican strategist Michael Schostak cynically suggested that flipping a majority of the state’s roughly 70,000 Jewish voters could shift the race by about 100,000 votes, highlighting the GOP’s willingness to exploit divisions for political gain.
The contest will determine who succeeds retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters, with both parties viewing the seat as pivotal for control of the U.S. Senate. The race underscores the ongoing struggle within the Democratic Party over support for Palestinian rights and the influence of pro-Israel lobbying.